High-voltage circuit interrupter incorporating series vacuum interrupter elements

ABSTRACT

A high-voltage circuit interrupter is provided utilizing a plurality of vacuum-type circuit interrupter elements located spatially in series, and having their respective movable contacts simultaneously opened and closed to interrupt and reconnect the connected circuit. The vacuum-interrupter elements are operated by a generally ladder-shaped movable contact assemblage, and the vacuum interrupter elements are preferably disposed in an atmosphere, or environment of a gaseous insulating medium, which is selected for its high dielectric strength to thereby increase the breakdown voltage axially along the units, or elements. The construction is such that the several vacuum-interrupter elements may be collectively removed, as a unitary assemblage, from a surrounding insulating casing structure for maintenance purposes, when desired. For the lower ratings, one of the interrupting columnar assemblages may be replaced by a terminalbushing structure, instead of having a second columnar arcextinguishing assemblage, involving a plurality of additional vacuum-type interrupting elements.

United States Patent [191 Kane et al.

[4 1 Feb. 12, 1974 HIGH-VOLTAGE CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER INCORPORATING SERIES VACUUM INTERRUPTER ELEMENTS [73] Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

22 Filed: Oct. 30, 1970 211 App]. No.: 85,512

[52] U.S. Cl. 200/144 B, 200/145 R, 200/148 R [51] Int. Cl. HOIh 33/66 [58] Field of Search 200/144 B, 145 R, 148 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,007,021 10/1961 Prunty et a1. 200/145 R X 3,180,959 4/1965 MacNeil1eta1.. 200/145 R 3,214,542 10/1965 Yeckley et al.... 200/145 3,596,028 7/1971 Kane 200/148 R 2,838,636 6/1958 Schwager 200/144 B X 3,123,698 3/1964 Waterton 200/144 B 3,244,842 4/1966 Kameyama et al... 200/144 B 3,300,609 1/1967 Flurscheim et al 200/144 B X FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,086,119 10/1967 Great Britain 200/l44 B 1,435,209 3/1966 France 200/144 B Primary ExaminerRobert S. Macon Attorney, Agent, or Firm-W. R. Crout 5 7] ABSTRACT A high-voltage circuit interrupter is provided utilizing a plurality of vacuum-type circuit interrupter elements located spatially in series, and having their respective movable contacts simultaneously opened and closed to interrupt and reconnect the connected circuit. The vacuum-interrupter elements are operated by a generally ladder-shaped movable contact assemblage, and the vacuum interrupter elements are preferably disposed in an atmosphere, or environment of a gaseous insulating medium, which is selected for its high dielectric strength to thereby increase the breakdown voltage axially along the units, or elements.

The construction is such that the several vacuum-interrupter elements may be collectively removed, as a unitary assemblage, from a surrounding insulating casing structure for maintenance purposes, when desired. For the lower ratings, one of the interrupting columnar assemblages may be replaced by a terminal-bushing structure, instead of having a second columnar arc-extinguishing assemblage, involving a plurality of additional vacuum-type interrupting elements.

8 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures FIG. 3

WITNESSES ATTORNEY Richo r gw z Frank L Reese PATENTED FEB T2 I974 saw u or 5 HIGH-VOLTAGE CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER INCORPORATING SERIES VACUUM INTERRUPTER ELEMENTS CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. application filed Dec. 9, 1968, Ser. No. 782,365, by Richard E. Kane and Frank L. Reese, entitled Compressed-Gas Circuit Interrupter, and assigned to the assignee of the instant application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the aforesaid patent application, Ser. No. 782,365, there is illustrated and described, in detail, a line of high-voltage fluid-blast circuit interrupters adaptable for a wide variety of voltage and current ratings, utilizing a plurality of gas-blast interrupting units in series. Each gas-blast interrupting unit comprises a pair of separable contacts, which are surrounded by a highpressure gas, such as sulfur-hexafluoride (SP gas, under a pressure, say 260 p.s.i., for example. The interrupting structure, set forth in the aforesaid patent application, is flexible in nature, that is to say it may incorporate two interrupting columnar assemblages slanting upwardly from a generally grounded tank structure, each of the columnar interrupting assemblages incorporating a plurality of the aforesaid gasblast interrupting units in series. However, for the lower ratings, one of the interrupting columnar assemblages may be replaced by a terminal-bushing structure. In either case, the circuit extends in a generally V-shaped path through the columnar assemblages, and through an intervening grounded tube containing highpressure gas.

It has been known in the prior art to utilize vacuumtype interrupter elements either utilized singly, or in series, for the higher voltage ratings. US. Pat. Nos., typical of such constructions, are 3,418,439 Casey et al., issued Dec. 24, 1968; 3,214,557 Pflanz, issued Oct. 26, 1965; 3,209,101 Peek et al., issued Sept. 28, 1965; 3,267,247 Ross, issued Aug. 16, 1966; 3,123,698 Waterton, issued Mar. 3, 1964; 3,300,609 Flurscheim et al., issued Jan. 24, 1967. British patent No. 1,028,719, published May 4, 1966 by Holmes and Reece is also of interest in this connection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed to substitute vacuum-type circuit interrupter units, or elements for the gas-blast interrupting units, or

elements disclosed in the aforesaid patent application Serial No..782,365, and employing an improved operating mechanism for the simultaneous actuating of the contacts thereof. Additionally, it is proposed to provide a novel, easily-removable, columnar, vacuum-type interrupting assemblage, which may be readily removed, as a unitary structure, from the surrounding casing structure, when desired. As a further advantage, it is proposed to immerse the columnar series vacuum-type circuit interrupting elements in a gaseous medium of relative high dielectric strength, such as sulfurhexafluoride (SP gas, at a pressure, say, for example, 45 p.s.i.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved high-voltage circuit interrupter employing a plurality of vacuum-type circuit interrupting elements, which are simultaneously actuated by an improved mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the voltage-withstand strength of an interrupting columnar assemblage incorporating a plurality of vacuum-type circuit interrupting elements in series.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided an upstanding insulating columnar casing structure surrounding an axially-arranged assemblage of series vacuum-type interrupting elements. A movable ladder-shaped contact-actuating assemblage effects the simultaneous movement of all of the movable contacts associated with the respective vacuum-type interrupting units, or elements. Additionally, the supporting structure for the columnar-type vacuum interrupting elements is such that it may be removed bodily, as a unit, upwardly and out of the surrounding casing structure in a ready manner.

Further objects and advantages will readily become apparent upon reading the following specifications, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a high-voltage circuit interrupter embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the three-phase circuit interrupter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the lower grounded operating mechanism for the individual operating rods associated with the respective arc-extinguishing columnar assemblages;

FIGS. 4A and 4B, collectively, illustrate, to an enlarged scale, a cross-sectional view taken through one of the columnar arc-extinguishing assemblages, illustrating the plurality of arc-interrupting units, or elements in series, and generally showing the type of movable actuating contact assemblage associated therewith, the contact structure being illustrated in the open-circuit position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line V-V of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a fragmentary detailed view of the detachable mechanical connection between the support plate of the arc-extinguishing assemblage and the upper end of the casing means;

FIGv 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating the contact structure of the several units in the opencircuit position;

FIG. 7 is a view somewhat similar to FIG. 6, but taken at thereto, the contact structure of the several units again being shown in the open-circuit position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detailed view of the upper reversing arms, and their pivotal connections to the longitudinally-extending operating rod and to the movable contact assemblage; and,

FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views of variations of columnar assemblages to accommodate a wide variety of voltage and current ratings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. l-3 thereof, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a three-phase circuit breaker. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, it will be apparent that the circuit breaker structure 1 is supported by a metallic framework 2,

which may be composed of heavy angle-iron braces 3 and beam 4. The circuit breaker structure 1 utilizes within casing structures 6 a suitable dielectric gas, such as sulfur-hexafluoride (SF gas 8, at say a relatively low pressure, say, for example 45 psi. As well known by those skilled in the art, other efficient dielectric gases may be used, or even compressed air at a suffciently high pressure. Additionally, oil or dielectric liquid mediums may be employed, if desired.

Generally, as shown in FIGS. 2 and. 3, the several pole-units A," B and C are spaced laterally apart upon the grounded supporting framework 2, and are mechanically interconnected to a common mechanism at ground potential, diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Reference may be had to US. Pat. No. 2,760,025 Van Sickle for a typical operating mechanism 10, which may be employed in the. instant invention. Any suitable mechanism may, of course, be used, such as a solenoid-type, hydraulic or compressed-air, the invention not being restricted to any particular type of mechanism 10.

Briefly, the manner of operation of the circuit breaker structure 1 is such as to cause the actuation of the ground potential operator 10 to effect motion of a mechanical linkage 11, which interconnects the several operating rods 13 extending upwardly individually within the three columnar-type arc-extinguishing assemblages 15, more clearly shown in FIG. 4A of the drawings.

With particular attention being directed to FIG. 4A, it will be observed that there is provided, generally, an outer insulating casing structure, generally designated by the reference number 6, and enclosing, within an inner insulating tube 17, a plurality of serially-arranged vacuum-type interrupting elements, each of which is designated by the reference numeral 19.

US. Pat. No. 3,462,572 Sofianek, may be referred to for. a typical description of a vacuum-type circuit interrupting element 19. Preferably, according to the present invention, the plurality of serially-arranged vacuum-type elements 19 are fixedly supported into place, each of which is secured to bracket structures 20, which are affixed to a pair of axially-extending support rods, designated by the reference numberal 22, and illustrated more clearly in FIG. 7 of the drawings. The insulating support rods 22 are fixedly secured at their upper ends to a metallic support plate 22, such as by a threaded connection, for example. It-will be observed that upon the removal of the upper support plate 24, the columnar assemblage of the several vacuum-type interrupting elements 19 may be bodily removed upwardly as a unit, there being provided a disconnecting contact-finger assemblage, designated by the reference numeral 27, and illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings.

Interiorly of the insulating casing structure 17, there is preferably provided a gaseous medium 8 of a relatively high-dielectric-strength gas, such as sulfurhexafluoride (SP gas, at a pressure say, for example, 45 psi. Other suitable dielectric mediums, even oil, or compressed gas, may be used in place of SE; gas at the aforesaid pressure. Such a construction increases the axial voltage breakdown strength of the units 19, and prevents the possibility of flashover axially along the assemblage l5.

To effect the simultaneous actuation of the movable contacts 28 associated with the plurality of vacuumtype interrupting elements 19, there is provided a generally ladder-shaped movable contact actuating assemblage comprising a pair of longitudinally extending insulating operating rods 30a having cross-bars 30b of metallic material affixed thereto. Shunts 31 are provided between the conducting cross-bars 30b and the stationary contact structure 32 of the vacuum-type interrupting element 19 immediately below the respective cross-bar 30b. The circuit L,L consequently, extends from the upper conducting plate 24 to the stationary contact 32 of the upper vacuum-type interrupting element 19, through the associated movable contact 28 thereof, to the conducting upper cross-bar 30b. The circuit then extends through the flexible strap shunt 31 to the stationary contact structure 32 associated with the middle vacuum-type interrupting element 19. The circuit extends, in a similar manner, downwardly through the movable stud portion 34, and through stationary contact fingers 35 to another stud portion 36, the latter being affixed, by a conducting cross'bar 22a, to the pair of insulating support rods 22, as illustrated more clearly in FIG. 7 of the drawings.

With reference to the stud portion 36, it will be observed that there is provided a cluster of relatively stationary fingers 38, which bear on the external surface 40 of a lower stationary conducting tube 42, which extends through the lower grounded metal casing 44, in

a manner more clearly illustrated in FIG. 4B of the drawings. Current-transformer structures CT may surround the grounded metallic casing structure 44, as shown in FIG. 48. Their function is to measure the current flow through the interrupter 1 and to initiate relaying operations.

The right-hand columnar arc-extinguishing assemblage 15 may be a duplicate of the left-hand arcextinguishing assemblage l5, and may accommodate an additional number of units 19, say three in number. However, for the lower current and voltage ratings, the right-hand structure 15 may merely be a terminalbushing structure 47, as illustrated in FIG. 10 of the drawings. To effect a removal of the plurality of vacuum-type interrupting elements 19, it is only necessary to remove the upper mounting bolts 49, and move the entire assemblage 15 of interrupting elements 19 upwardly, as a unit, causing a separation at the point X in the drawings. The casing structure 6, however, remains attached to the lower grounded metallic flange support 51 (FIG. 4A).

The operating linkage 53 to effect the longitudinal reciprocal motion of the movable contact assemblage 30 comprises a pair of laterally-spaced reversing links 55, which are pivotally mounted upon a stationary pivot pin 56, the latter being supported at the upper ends of a pair of bracket members 58, illustrated more clearly in FIG. 6 of the drawings. As a result, downward movement of the operating rod 13 effects upward closing movement of the several movable contacts 28. Conversely, upward opening movement of the operating rod 13 effects downward movement of the movable contact assemblage 30, and hence opening of the circuit breaker 1. The movable contacts 28 all act simultaneously together, as is obvious.

To facilitate the opening operation, an accelerating spring 60, disposed within a cage structure 61, has its lower spring seat 62 pivotally connected at 63 to the upper cross-bar 30b of the movable contact assemblage 30, as shown more clearly in FIG. 6.

It will be observed that the two parallel-disposed insulating operating rods 30a extend upwardly through apertures 24a provided in the upper conducting plate 24 of. the arc-extinguishing assemblage 15. These side insulating operating rods 30a are interconnected at their upper extremities by the upper movable cross-bar 30b, the latter being pivotally connected, at at 63, to the lower spring seat 62 of the accelerating spring as semblage 60. The bracket members 58, spaced apart to provide the fixed pivot 56, may be secured, as by welding, to the upper surface 24b of the upper conducting support plate 24. Also, the insulating operating rod 13 may extend through an aperture 24d provided through the upper conducting support plate 24, and have a pivotal connection, as at 64, to the right-hand ends of the reversing links 55. As a result, downward closing movement of the insulating operating rod 13 will effect, through the reversing links 55, upward closing movement of the movable actuating contact assemblage 30. Conversely, upward opening movement of the insulating operating rods 13 will effect, through the upper linkage 53, downward opening movement of the movable contact actuating assemblage 30, and consequently downwardly opening movement of the several movable contacts 28. Arc extinction within the vacuum-type interrupting elements 19 occurs in the manner set forth in the aforesaid Sofianek US. Pat. No. 3,462,572. It will be observed that the arcs are simultaneously established within the several interrupting elements 19, since all of the movable contacts 28 are actuated by a single movable actuating contact assemblage 30.

Normally, the stationary insulating cross-bar 22a maintains the stud portions 36 in a relatively fixed position, the latter supporting the upper and lower contact spring clusters 35, 38. However, when it is desired to physically remove the entire arc-extinguishing assemblage upwardly out of the casing structures 6 the outward removal of the upper metallic plate 24 will, through the side insulating support rods 22, carry the cross-bar 22a and consequently the stationary stud portion 36 therewith, causing a separation between the lower contact fingers 38 and the upper end of the lower conducting tube 42 at the separation point X illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that there has been provided an improved high-voltage circuit interrupter 1 adaptable for a wide variety of ratings, and including, for example, six interrupting elements 19 disposed within the two casing structures 6, and suitable'say for a voltage rating of 230 KV. For the lower ratings, one of the assemblages 15 would be replaced by a terminal-bushing structure 47, as illustrated in FIG. 10. Readily removal of the interrupting assemblage 15 is easily provided, and the operating linkages 53 may be interconnected together, as shown in FIG. 3, and actuated by a single mechanism 10 at ground potential.

Although there has been illustrated and described a specific structure, it is to be clearly understood that the same was merely for the purpose of illustration, and that changes and modifications may readily be made therein by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A high-voltage multi-break circuit interrupter including, in combination, upstanding insulating columnar casing means, an arc-extinguishing assemblage including a plurality of spatially-arranged and electrically seriallyrelated vacuum-type interrupting elements disposed in series relationship, each of said vacuum-type interrupting elements having a stationary contact and a cooperable movable contact, a supporting plate 24 resting on the upper end of said insulating columnar casing means and removably affixed thereto, insulating rod means 22 for fixedly supporting said arcextinguishing assemblage to said support plate so that said assemblage is suspended downwardly within said insulating columnar casing means in the operative position of the circuit-interrupter, an operating mechanism for the circuit interrupter disposed adjacent the lower end of said columnar casing means and having an insulating operating rod 13 extending upwardly within said insulating columnar casing means, means defining-a reversing mechanical linkage mounted on said support plate and mechanically connected to the upper end of said operating rod 13, means connected to said reversing linkage and comprising a movable operating rod 30a for extending downwardly into said columnar casing means responsive to motion of said operating rod 13, means connecting all of the movable contacts of the vacuum-type interrupting elements to said movable operating rod 30a so as to be simultaneously opened and closed responsive to said operating rod 13, means biasing the movable contacts to the open-circuit position, means defining a disconnecting-contact structure located interiorly of said casing means adjacent the lower end thereof, a movable disconnecting contact secured to the lower end of said arc-extending assemblage and making separable disconnecting engagement with said first-mentioned disconnecting contact structure, terminal means connected to said first-mentioned disconnecting contact structure, whereby upon removal of said support plate 24 the entire arc-extinguishing assemblage may be removed upwardly out of said columnar casing means with separation of the disconnecting contact structure within the casing means.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said means connected to the reversing linkage and comprising the movable operating rod 300 additionally includes a second parallel-disposed insulating operating rod, and said two operating rods having transverse cross-bars extending therebetween, each of which is fixedly secured to a movable contact of one of the vacuum-type interrupting elements.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the upstanding insulating columnar casing means includes an insulating gas having a high dielectric strength.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein the dielectric gas within the columnar casing means is sulfur-hexafluoride (SP gas.

5. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the reversing mechanical linkage mounted upon the support plate includes a rotatable lever structure pivotally supported intermediate the ends thereof upon a stationary pivot,

6. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means includes a single accelerating opening spring supported on said support plate and mechanically connected to said movable operating rod 30a for biasing said movable operating rod 30a downwardly within the columnar casing means to open the contacts.

8 v the insulating rod means 22 for fixedly supporting the arc-extinguishing assemblage to said support plate comprises a pair of laterally-spaced insulating support rods 22 for supporting the vacuum-type interrupting elements in spaced vertical arrangement. 

1. A high-voltage multi-break circuit interrupter including, in combination, upstanding insulating columnar casing means, an arcextinguishing assemblage including a plurality of spatiallyarranged and electrically serially related vacuum-type interrupting elements disposed in series relationship, each of said vacuum-type interrupting elements having a stationary contact and a cooperable movable contact, a supporting plate 24 resting on the upper end of said insulating columnar casing means and removably affixed thereto, insulating rod means 22 for fixedly supporting said arc-extinguishing assemblage to said support plate so that said assemblage is suspended downwardly within said insulating columnar casing means in the operative position of the circuit-interrupter, an operating mechanism for the circuit interrupter disposed adjacent the lower end of said columnar casing means and having an insulating operating rod 13 extending upwardly within said insulating columnar casing means, means defining a reversing mechanical linkage mounted on said support plate and mechanically connected to the upper end of said operating rod 13, means connected to said reversing linkage and comprising a movable operating rod 30a for extending downwardly into said columnar casing means responsive to motion of said operating rod 13, means connecting all of the movable contacts of the vacuum-type interrupting elements to said movable operating rod 30a so as to be simultaneously opened and closed responsive to said operating rod 13, means biasing the movable contacts to the open-circuit position, means defining a disconnecting-contact structure located interiorly of said casing means adjacent the lower end thereof, a movable disconnecting contact secured to the lower end of said arc-extinguishing assemblage and making separable disconnecting engagement with said first-mentioned disconnecting contact structure, terminal means connected to said first-mentioned disconnecting contact structure, whereby upon removal of said support plate 24 the entire arc-extinguishing assemblage may be removed upwardly out of said columnar casing means with separation of the disconnecting contact structure within the casing means.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said means connected to the reversing linkage and comprising the movable operating rod 30a additionally includes a second parallel-disposed insulating operating rod, and said two operating rods having transverse cross-bars extending therebetween, each of which is fixedly secured to a movable contact of one of the vacuum-type interrupting elements.
 3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the upstanding insulating columnar casing means includes an insulating gas having a high dielectric strength.
 4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein the dielectric gas within the columnar casing means is sulfur-hexafluoride (SF6) gas.
 5. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the reversing mechanical linkage mounted upon the support plate includes a rotatable lever structure pivotally supported intermediate the ends thereof upon a stationary pivot,
 6. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means includes a single accelerating opening spring supported on said support plate and mechanically connected to said movable operating rod 30a for biasing said movable operating rod 30a downwardly within the columnar casing means to open the contacts.
 7. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the disconnecting contact structure includes a stud portion secured to the vacuum-type interrupting assemblage and having a plurality of movable disconnecting contact fingers making separable engagement with said first-mentioned disconnecting contact structure.
 8. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the insulating rod means 22 for fixedly supporting the arc-extinguishing assemblage to said support plate comprises a pair of laterally-spaced insulating support rods 22 for supporting the vacuum-type interrupting elements in spaced vertical arrangement. 